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I'm starting to realize that looking for another sailboat could turn into a part-time/full time job if I let it. That's the reason for this post. Tanksalot

True, but it's the best job imaginable.

06-02-2012 04:37 AM

MarkSF

Re: Bristol 34 or........?

I think the Bristol might surprise the Catalina, upwind.

06-02-2012 01:41 AM

kulokoo

Re: Bristol 34 or........?

It looks like the Bristol 34 has a lot of teak warmth in the interior, a Catalina 30 might pass you, but do you care? The Catalina 30 sails fairly well, but feels very antiseptic to me; I like that wood warmth feel, too. I've never been on a Bristol 34 (or a Tartan 30), but maybe the other key, besides feel, is just how good shape they are in. These are old boats, and Summer is too short to spend on boat "projects".

One of the things that's impressed me the most is the number of warm, friendly, outgoing and (sometimes) very knowledgeable people my wife and I have met in our search for a boat.

There's an almost childlike enthusiasm amongst sailboat owners (and this boat buyer), and it's exhilarating to meet intelligent, outgoing people who REALLY know what they're talking about. Especially if it's about something that you also enjoy. Discussions rapidly evolve from boats to life, values and other topics that are meaningful and emotional. I LOVE sailing!!

Regarding the Bristol 34, I've talked to one former owner over the phone (boat got wrecked in a hurricane), and have posted on a few sites looking for others. Right now the surveyor will give the boat a 45 min. once-over and let me know what he sees. What's interesting is that in contacting one yachting club to see if they know of any Bristol 34 owners, I get a return email saying, essentially, that it's really not that great of a boat with numerous issues. It just happened to be a boat broker, and I'm certain he had his own agenda. Sad to see such manipulation of reality.

I've also found a Tartan 30 that seems to have gotten excellent care from a meticulous owner. What I'm planning now is a trip to see the Tartan 30 enroute to viewing the Bristol 34 survey. Then the Tartan 30 can be my emotional/actual fall back position.

I'll keep the C&C 34 in mind, but the amount of time and travel this boat-looking is starting to take up is surprising. But getting up in the morning, driving for a while, looking at boats with a knowledgeable, enthusiastic broker, eating lunch at a nice restaurant with an ocean view and then coming home at 4 PM isn't such a bad way to spend a day. Plus, we're learning a LOT about various boats and their characteristics.

Thanks for the feedback
Tanksalot

05-30-2012 06:15 PM

Barquito

Re: Bristol 34 or........?

I like the looks of the Ted Hood designed Bristol 32 ketch. There is one example in Marblehead, MA.

I would take another look at the Catalina if I were you. I understand it doesn't look as salty as the other boats do, but it sounds like your wife wants a floating Condo. You can buy a lot of living space in a Catalina for not as much money as other brands. The same can be said of Hunter's and Bene's. There are a lot of boats on the market right now. I would just wait a month or two till the right one came along. A nice boat that costs a little more will be cheaper in the long run. If you see five major problems with a boat it probably has 20 or 30 major problems.

05-29-2012 06:35 PM

SkywalkerII

Re: Bristol 34 or........?

I sent you a PM

Skywalker

05-29-2012 06:25 PM

SkywalkerII

Re: Bristol 34 or........?

I don't want to put up a classified here but...

If you are interested, I know of a 1978 C&C 34, on Long Island Sound, has a new Atomic 4....

Very reasonably priced and ready to go.

Send me a message for details if you want.

Skywalker

05-29-2012 06:22 PM

chuck53

Re: Bristol 34 or........?

You mentioned a fairly new Catalina 31, that I'm sure is way above your budget but the deal killer was a lack of interior wood.
I've got an older C-34 that would be at least somewhat closer to your budget and it has lots of interior wood. In fact, my boat after 25 years, the wood was looking awfully tired so I'm in the process of re-varnishing and so far, things are looking much better and it's not an unreasonable amount of work.

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